Former Air Force security sergeant convicted in Colorado rape

Desmond Alvis Martin, a former Air Force security squadron staff sergeant, was found guilty of sexually assaulting an Aurora, Colorado woman in her home at gunpoint - and using a cellphone to document the attacks. He is also facing four other sexual assault charges.

A former Air Force security squadron staff sergeant was found guilty Friday of sexually assaulting a Colorado woman in her home while he videotaped the crime on his phone, the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced.

Desmond Alvis Martin, 31 wore a mask and was armed with a handgun when he entered the woman's home in January 2016 and forced her at gunpoint to perform numerous sex acts while he recorded the assault on his cellphone, the DA's Office said. A jury found Martin guilty of sexual assault, a felony.

Martin faces charges in four similar cases - all rapes of prostitutes - in Colorado Springs, and the victims in those cases testified during Martin's trial in Arapahoe County. Colorado Springs law enforcement found similarities between the Aurora and Colorado Springs cases, and evidence from both jurisdictions led to Martin, the DA's Office said.

"The defendant contacted his victims through online ads for escort/ prostitution services, knowing they would be less likely to talk to law enforcement," Senior Deputy District Attorney Cara Morlan said during trial, according to the DA's Office.

"But the defendant failed to account for the courage of these victims," said Senior Deputy District Attorney Thomas Byrnes, who prosecuted the case with Morlan. "They didn't let their fears keep them silent."

Martin was a dog handler at Peterson Air Force Base at the time of his arrest in April 2016. He will be sentenced in Arapahoe County Aug. 25 and will go to trial in El Paso County Sept. 18, court records show.

"I am proud of our citizens for seeing through this rapist's insulting and disingenuous claims that his victim consented to his assaultive behavior," 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler said in a written statement. "There is one place in our state for such predators. The only question that remains is for how long will he be sentenced to be there? Our office will continue to stand up for victims from every background. Nobody deserves to be raped."